Profile

Dr. Hideaki Yukawa, Chief Executive Officer

Specializations:

Molecular biology, microbial applications, enzyme chemistry

Education and Professional History

Aug. 1971

Graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Tokyo Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
Joined the Biochemistry Research Laboratory of the Tsukuba Research Center of Mitsubishi Petrochemical Co., Ltd (currently Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation)

1983

Obtained his doctoral degree in agriculture from the University of Tokyo

Apr. 1991

Became Director of the Biochemistry Research Laboratory of Mitsubishi Petrochemical Co., Ltd.

Nov. 1993

Served concurrently as leader of establishing the bio research function of the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

Apr. 1997

Appointed Research Fellow of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Jun. 2003

Retired from Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and began working full-time for the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

Jun. 2007

Appointed Director of the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

Sep. 2011

Established the Green Earth Institute Co., Ltd as founder

Jun. 2015

Retired as Director of the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

Aug. 2015

Established the Utilization of Carbon Dioxide Institute Co., Ltd., appointed Chief Executive Officer

Fellowship Award from The Society for Industrial Microbiology* This award is presented for achievements in the field of applied microbiology and Mr. Yukawa became the first Japanese national to receive it in 2011. The 2015 winner was Satoshi Omura.

At PNNL, Dr. Metting shared responsibility for program development and research oversight of biological and environmental sciences, including programs supported by the DOE Office of Science (DOE-SC), the National Institutes of Health and private industry. On assignment to DOE-SC, beginning in the 1990’s, he contributed to conceptualization, development and management of national programs in Subsurface Science, Natural & Accelerated Bioremediation Research (NABIR), Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration & Global Climate Science, and the GTL: Genomes to Life initiative, DOE’s pioneering microbial genomics program. Dr. Metting also participated in PNNL’s internal initiative in Bio-Based Products, culminating in the joint PNNL-Washington State University Bioproducts Sciences & Engineering Laboratory.

From 2008-2011, Dr. Metting worked with Battelle-Malaysia to design a world-class Renewable Energy Laboratory for Petronas, the state oil company of Malaysia. He was responsible for the biological sciences component.

Dr. Metting served from 2004-2006 as Chair of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Microalgae Biofixation Network, predecessor to the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO).

R&A Plant-Soil was incorporated in 1979 as a microbial biotechnology company focused on mass culture of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria & soil-conditioning, palmelloid microalgae for organic agriculture. Dr. Metting secured Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and DOE, as well contracts from SERI, the Solar Energy Research Institute (since renamed NREL).

The company transitioned to traditional & organic fertilizers in the 1990’s and remains profitable.

Education:

1979

Ph.D., Washington State University (Botany)

1975

M.S., Washington State University (Botany)

1972

B.A., Whitman College (Liberal Arts)

1984-1986

University of Washington (MBA coursework, including Financial & Management Accounting)

Program Committee Member for BIO-sponsored World Congresses on Industrial Biotechnology and Pacific Rim Summits on Industrial Microbiology & Bioenergy (annually since inception of each series in early 2000s).

Dr. Alain Vertès is Managing Director at NxR Biotechnologies, a global boutique consulting firm based in Basel, Switzerland, where he advises on strategy, business development (partnering, alliance management, in- and out-licensing, commercialisation), entrepreneurship and investment in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and sustainable chemistry industries. NxR's track record comprises projects with big pharmas, biotechs, generics companies, financial investors, CROs, academia, and start-ups.

Dr. Vertès came to this role after extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and industrial biotechnology sectors, in Europe, North America, and Asia in different functions including research, manufacturing, partnering, and sales, in pharmaceuticals (Lilly, Pfizer, Roche), petrochemicals (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), public research (Institut Pasteur; RITE/Kyoto), contract research (Battelle Memorial Institute, PPD/BioDuro) and consulting (Australian Strategic Policy Institute). Focusing on innovation commercialization, he was a key player in the evaluation, selection, deal making, implementation, and alliance management of novel products and emerging technologies. For example, he championed radical innovation for bringing to patients disease-modifying, paradigm-changing therapeutics such as siRNA (Scrip Award 2008) and led in a scientific, strategic, and business manner Roche’s global cell therapeutics strategy and implementation team from 2007-2010.

Dr. Vertès received an M.Sc. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a PhD from the University of Lille Flandres Artois, and is a Sloan Fellow from London Business School (MBA/M.Sc.).